Day 2 with LaoLao

As each day progresses, you learn more and more about your child.  Today, we know, that LaoLao loves to eat.  She eats anything as long as it gets cut up into small pieces.  She handles a spoon well, but holds it incorrectly.  She cries when she falls or is frustrated, but usually for only about 10 seconds.  She needs to learn to play appropriately (she just wanders around holding objects), but she picks things up from modeling quickly.  (Thanks goodness for Mia.). She learned the sign for "more", is working on the sign for "want", and learned the English word "ball".  (She says "ba".)  LaoLao is a thumb sucker when tired.  So now I have two of them. LaoLao also likes to carry around a comfort object, some small item that is easy to carry.  It can be her sippy cup, a small toy comb, or a ball.

Today we went back to the Civil Affairs office to sign all the official paperwork.  We talked a bit to a family that also got their child yesterday, only to learn that they are from Fresno.  Small world indeed!  And they know another Fresno family that will also be here getting a child, but they have never met in person either.  After the paperwork, we went to the Carrefour which is very Walmart-like.  Ava LaoLao had the same stunned/overwhelmed look that Mia had when we first took her to Walmart.

After lunch, we hung out in the room a bit where we learned to clap and dance to music and throw, catch, and roll a ball or balloon.  We played at a small playground on the 4th floor terrace,  LaoLao needed instruction and modeling, but picked up how to climb and slide quickly.  She loved looking at the camera screen after I took a picture of her sliding.  She squeals with delight after seeing herself.  

For dinner we went to our usual Happy Hour at the Executive Lounge which is our favorite new place...a meal out of appetizers, wine, and it is included with the room.  LaoLao loves watermelon and is her first choice of the things on her plate.  She is working on drinking out of a cup without soaking herself. She really wants to master this, but it is difficult!  She is also a slow eater, beating Mia for slowness at a meal.  And if you know Mia, you know that this is quite a feat.

The happiness of yesterday has been tempered with more tears today.  As I said earlier though, they don't last for long.  I am sure tiredness has a lot to do with it.  Ava LaoLao doesn't like to nap, as much as I tried.  So tonight bedtime was early while Mia got to go with NaiNai and Poppy for a night swim in the hotel pool.  Tomorrow is a slow day with only one small errand on the agenda.  Maybe we will be up for trying the pool. I know one of pics below is blurry, but it showed how much she liked sliding.  I'll have to have Mom bring her good camera tomorrow.